The Call May the words of our mouths and the mediations of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight oh Lord our strength and our redeemer.

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1 S T M A R K S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H The Call May the words of our mouths and the mediations of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight oh Lord our strength and our redeemer. Issue-March 2015 Formation Formation News Pages 3-4 Worship Holy Week Holy Week Schedule Pages 5-6 Parish Transitions Brunch Kanuga WINE Bingo Pastoral Care Game Night Knights Baseball Exercise Class Yard sale Pages 7-11 Outreach Loaves and Fishes Page 11 And what does the rector do? The statements below appear in the letters of agreement between every rector and every congregation in our diocese. The expectations seem to be straightforward and in keeping with God s call to this vocation. What many rectors discover, and yours in particular experiences, is the disconnect between the first and second paragraphs: The Rector shall lead Episcopal Church as pastor, priest and teacher, sharing in the councils of this congregation and the whole Church, in communion with our Bishop. By word and action, informed at all times by the Holy Scriptures, the Book of Common Prayer, the Constitution and Canons of the General Convention and our Diocese, the Rector shall proclaim the Gospel, love and serve Christ's people, nourish them, and strengthen them to glorify God in this life and in the life to come. The ministry is further described in the Rector Position Description approved by the Wardens and Vestry of St. Mark s Episcopal Church, which is hereby acknowledged and made part of this Letter of Agreement. What becomes detailed in the Rector Position Description is a long list of administrative duties and day-to-day oversight of resources and programs. Who do we call when the basement floods? 1

2 Who do we get to be Children s Chaplains? Should we buy a vacuum cleaner, the one we have isn t working? Is our insurance policy up-to-date? Is it time to take the lost-and-found items to Goodwill? Who do we get to serve on altar guild, stewardship, and finance committees, as ushers and greeters? Before too long, the hours are taken up with addressing these questions, and leading St. Mark s as pastor, priest and teacher gets short shrift. This challenge has become increasingly disconcerting for me. I see what God has called me to be and do at variance with how I spend my days. After a long season of prayerful discernment and conversations with Peter, I presented the vestry a possible remedy. Our level of parish stewardship does not allow us to hire a program and resource manager, and I cannot be that as well as the pastor, priest, teacher I am charged to be first. Therefore, I offered the vestry the option to reallocate more than one-third of my salary to hire someone for these duties. In so doing, I am transferring 1,000 hours of work to someone else and freeing those hours so I can do the key work of a priest. I am excited to see how that time will be spent in relationship with our members and would-be members. I am thinking of the lunchtime conversations at school with our children, the prayer group that meets in the morning for people who don t drive at night, the variety of formation classes that might be organized, the more expansive liturgies we might sometimes offer the sense that your priest is not too busy to talk to you about anything at any time This shift in work and income gives all of us the opportunity to assess priorities, to live more intentionally aligned with God s call to faith rather than security. Honestly, the idea is both energizing and daunting. What makes the prospect less angst-provoking is the person who will take on the role of Program and Resource Manager. Sarah Milholland returns as a staff employee with more hours and a wider scope of work. She begins this new position March 15. I hope you will welcome her warmly to these new duties. While the rector has ultimate oversight over parish affairs, the program and resource manager will coordinate the day-to-day operations of the parish. I hope this season of redefined leadership and accessibility of a priest on the ground, in your homes, at the public square both intrigues and reassures you. Looking forward to God s always better plan, Your sister in Christ, 2

3 Formation Past, Present, with something so special and so important. with a past tradition. in a deep way with new and old faces. with Jesus and continue to delve deep in your faith Sunday School for all ages has started Children, Youth, and Adult Formation begins each 9:30 and will conclude just before the 11am service. 3

4 Formation Past, Present, On Feb our youth joined St. Patrick s, St. Martins, and Holy Comforter at Kanuga for a Winter Retreat. We explored the Jewish idea of Sabbath. We prayed and played with God for the entire weekend. It was most certainly an amazing experience seeking God in all that we did...even if just about everything was covered in ice 4

5 Holy Week and why it is important for families and individuals to observe. Looking at the image above you see many words that elicit strong reactions, conflicting emotions and perhaps a sense of things unresolved. The motivation of the events, the lessons to be learned and somehow incorporated into meaning in our modern lives leave us if not puzzled then certainly reflective. To understand Easter and why it holds such power, we must understand the way of the cross. Why humans reacted as they did, why God responded in his way are central questions to the Christian faith. From Palm Sunday to Easter Morning each liturgy we offer addresses these whys. Holy Week services are not a series of six Sunday Eucharists celebrated back to back. Each service has its own rhythm, its own unique content and emotional resonance. The mood through the week alternates between human frailty and God s abiding presence. The sounds, smells, textures of the services bring these competing themes into sharper focus. Holy Week Services are faith memory making events. They will elicit thoughtful questions and they have staying power. The schedule is posted here in advance. The clergy, worship and formation teams encourage you to immerse yourself and your children in the Holy Week experience. The Seder meal is the symbolic food Jesus and his disciples would have consumed at or close to their last supper. The healing service reminds us of God s (Father, Son, and Spirit) commitment to welcoming us into a community of never-ending concern and regard. The Stations of the Cross held outside by candlelight this year, will lead us through the last hours of Christ s mortal life and how human s reacted in fear, anger and self-serving ways. The Maundy Thursday Liturgy reminds us of Christ s final commandment of love and gave the message the perfect image in the washing of feet. Later the service takes a solemn turn as the church is darkened and all appointments are stripped away, leaving the crosses veiled in black. The Good Friday liturgy is as solemn as we can bear with readings, prayers and haunting hymns. 5

6 Palm Sunday Holy Week Services March 29th-April 3 rd 8:30 Liturgy of the palms and the passion narrative 11:00 Liturgy of the palms and the passion narrative at Ranson Middle School Parking Lot followed by Community Lunch Holy Monday 6:30 Seder Meal Osborne Hall Holy Tuesday 7:00 Healing Service Holy Wednesday 7:00 Stations of the Cross by candle light Maundy Thursday 7:00 Foot washing & Stripping of the Altar Good Friday 7:00 Liturgy of Solemn Collects Nursery care available for all services. 6

7 Birthdays Steph Ryan Herrin - 3/2 Riley Milholland - 3/3 David Stephens - 3/5 Vincent Boyle - 3/6 Alan Kathman - 3/7 Jessica Du Bois 3/9 Steve Wright - 3/10 Andrea Seymour - 3/13 Lynn Harvey 3/16 Heather Ferguson - 3/18 Jordana Gheraibeh - 3/21 Kevin Glover - 3/21 Denise Brethen - 3/22 Doug Haraburd - 3/22 Bryson DeJong - 3/24 Elizabeth Wilson - 3/25 James Woolley - 3/25 Andy Christman 3/27 Chris Kendrick - 3/27 Don Siegel - 3/28 Jerry Schroeder - 3/29 Melinda DeJong - 3/30 Daubeny Freeman 3/30 Jim Wilson - 3/30 Anniversaries Philip & Melanie Blythe - 3/5 Rev. Ty & Debra Smithdeal - 3/18 Richard & Mary Beth Masline - 3/19 Prayers for continued healing: Robin Mason Judith Hundertmark Alex Mondlak Mary Beth Masline Roy Michael Martha Ann Springer James Self Victoria Mason Doris Nason Pat Pagola Jim Rhinewalt Erin Seeger Elizabeth Englishman Jim Albertia Linda Thompson Gebelein David Bridger Mike Carver New Members: Marlene Bandis Skyler & Sarah Hart and daughter Kennedy Daubeny Freeman Panera Bread Pick Up Mark & Lacy Hamilton 3/6 John Lavery/Robyn Englishman 3/13 Alan & Lesli Kathman 3/20 TBD 3/27 7

8 Rejuvenation Brunch Sunday, March 1 st 9:30-10:45 Parish Life provides the food. Rejuvenation Committee provides the vision. You provide the questions and applause. We look forward to seeing everyone at Kanuga See Debra Smithdeal or Sarah Milholland for additional information We will be available to accept additional payments/installments on the following dates: March 1st, March 29th, April 26th and Final payments will be due on May 10th W.I.N.E. Women in Need of Entertainment WINE scheduled for March 6:30 at the home of Allison Rhinehardt Morning Creek Lane Charlotte, NC Please contact Debbie Siegel debbiesiegel@bellsouth.net with any questions 8

9 SPAGHETTI DINNER AND BINGO PARTY---A SUCCESS PARISH LIFE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CONGREGATION FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE FUN EVENT. THE PRIZE DONATIONS WERE FANTASTIC AND EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS.. THE PRIZES THAT REMAINED WILL BE USED FOR VARIED CHURCH EVENTS. WE HOPE THAT EVERYONE HAD A GREAT Pastoral Care Will meet March 8th at 10:00 in Osborne Hall Please contact Evelyn Fischer if you are interested in Pastoral Care or if you have any quesaons. 9

10 4 PARISH LIFE ANNOUNCES GAME NIGHT If you enjoy playing cards and board games Join us on Friday March 13 at 7:00 p.m. in Osborne Hall An evening of fellowship and friendly competition awaits you. Bring a snack to share if you wish and a favorite game We will provide some games but it is always fun to play anew one. If weather conditions are questionable Call Jan Sanford at for an update KNIGHTS BASEBALL GAME Friday, 7:00p.m. The Knights vs Gwinnett (Braves) at the BB+T Ballpark Spring is a great time of the year to enjoy a baseball game. 100 reserved seat tickets have been ordered. See Marsha Phillips between services beginning February 8th to sign up for tickets. Payment deadline is March 29th. Tickets are $16.00 each and include $2.00 for goodies Chartered bus service from St Mark's parking lot will be available if interest in that is shown. Sign up if you think you may be interested. Info on the cost will be forthcoming. SAVE THE DATE St. Mark s Youth will be hosting a yard sale Saturday May 2nd Start saving all those belongings you no longer have need for. More information to come. 10

11 Beginning Thursday, March 19 at 6:45pm, an exercise class with a mix of cardio, body weight training & yoga will be offered in the Parish Hall. If interested, please contact Jennifer Addington by March 6th so the class can be tailored to everyone s ability. Cost is $5/class Jenaddington@yahoo.com Through, February we have collected a total of 147 pounds. If you are able, we ask that you continue to remember Loaves & Fishes when shopping and bring contributions when you come to church on Sunday. The collection bin is located in Founders Hall area. At the end of the month, the donations will be taken to the local food bank. Thank you for your generosity Priority needs: (No glass please; preferably PLASTIC bags with handles.) Pasta Meals (ravioli, spaghetti etc) Canned Vegetables (not green beans) Canned Fruit Canned Meats 100% Juice Peanut Butter Oatmeal, Grits, Pasta Tomato Sauce 11

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